Chili Pepper Properties
Seasonings add spice to ordinary dishes, and therefore are present in almost all national cuisines. Chili pepper is one of the most popular spices in the world. Let's analyze the characteristics, harm and benefits of chili pepper.
Useful and harmful properties of chili peppers
Characteristic
Origin
Chili pepper is of Mexican origin. According to the pagan beliefs of the Aztecs, the spice belonged to the goddess Kausolotl and had magical properties. The plant got to Europe in the 15th century with the second expedition of Christopher Columbus. In another way, the popular spice is called captsicum, but this name did not catch on.
The name "Chile" appeared thanks to the conquistadors who disseminated it. They considered the country of Chile to be the homeland of this plant.
Composition
Chili peppers contain capsaicin, an alkaloid responsible for a specific pungent taste. The substance has an irritating effect on pain receptors in the brain and mucous membranes. The result is an increased heart rate, increased sweating and the production of endorphins. Complex chemical elements remove discomfort and cause emotional uplift and euphoria.
In hot chili peppers, the seeds are the most bitter. Removing the internal grains can reduce the burning sensation and bitterness. With regular consumption, a person gets used to the taste of the vegetable. Unlike other products, the substance does not cause withdrawal symptoms and subsequent discomfort.
Appearance
What a vegetable looks like:
- red chili pepper.
- among the types of chili peppers, there are practically no differences in the structure of tops and leaves, the size of which hardly changes.
- the height of the bush ranges from 15 cm to 1 m, the flowers are white, sometimes they have a yellow bloom on the pistil.
Features of agricultural technology
The perennial plant prefers to thrive in warm, humid conditions. Cultivation can be carried out both by seeds and seedlings.
In cool regions, the culture can be grown without problems in a greenhouse. If properly looked after (watering, feeding), the vegetable will delight you with a bountiful harvest.
The bush grows in nutritious soil, therefore, when planting, pay attention to the composition of the soil. With a deficiency of fertilizer, the plates turn yellow, and the harvest is small. The value of such products is small and difficult to maintain until next season. In conditions where summer is not all year round, seeds are germinated before planting.
Varieties
What are the varieties of chili peppers? The popular spice is not limited to one plant; breeders breed many interesting species. To prepare a dish, you need to know the characteristics of the spice.
- Ancho. The homeland of the plant is Mexico, but recently the bush has spread throughout the world. It is a sweet green pod with medium pungency.
- Yellow, or Guero. Not a very hot spice with a pleasant smell and sour aftertaste.
- Mini, or Thai. A small plant with small fruits, it is easy to grow in a pot instead of a flower.Despite its size, it is one of the most bitter types.
- Mister Max. Large pods have a bright, memorable aroma.
The pepper is very hot
The pungency of peppers is usually measured on the Scoville scale. Now the sharpest plant in Chile is the Carolina reaper. The variety has more than 1.5 million skovels, making it the champion of the hot spice.
Composition
Is chili pepper good for the body? One of the important advantages is the presence of a huge number of useful elements in it. The product is rich in dietary fiber and has practically no fat (no more than 1%), cholesterol. There are only 40 calories in 100 g of a vegetable, although rarely does anyone manage to eat a spice in such a volume.
The benefit of chili peppers is that it contains a colossal amount of ascorbic acid, which covers double the daily requirement. In addition, vitamins A, K and B6 are present in the burning vegetable, which affect important functions of the human body. Regular addition to food has a positive effect on internal organs, bones and skin.
Minerals: iron, magnesium and potassium - have an effect on the cardiovascular system. Zinc is involved in biochemical reactions, helping the immune system. Phosphorus maintains bone quality and improves mental and muscle performance.
Benefit
Chili pepper, whose properties have been surprising for several years, is a favorite in many national cuisines. It is important to know the strengths of the product.
From disease
Chili peppers are recommended to be consumed regularly. First of all, the product is useful for improving health. It helps relieve or relieve the symptoms of many ailments.
- High blood pressure. The hot spice dilates blood vessels and stabilizes the heart.
- Destroys infections. Capsaicin easily copes with bacteria, therefore it is effective for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, food poisoning, sore throat.
- Prevents the development of diabetes mellitus (type 2). By lowering blood sugar, red chili peppers help reduce glucose levels. The body needs less insulin to function properly.
- Cancer prevention. Scientists have noticed that with regular consumption of spices, people are less susceptible to oncology.
- Helps with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. When applied externally, it is possible to overcome ailments such as arthritis, rheumatism and sciatica.
- Strengthens the nervous system. Thanks to the spicy properties of chili peppers, receptors send signals to the brain and endorphins are produced. The hormone helps relieve pain, stress, and helps treat insomnia.
- From worms. Parasites do not live in the digestive tract of people who prefer burning food. It will be possible to neutralize insects at a certain concentration of the active substance.
In addition to the above, the vegetable reduces the amount of salt intake, as a result, the body ceases to retain water, which has a positive effect on overall health.
Pepper is useful
For beauty
What are the cosmetic benefits of chili peppers? Due to its hotness, the spice is often used to improve the appearance of skin and hair. Pepper face masks are popular among the peoples of India. Domestic beauties use alcoholic tinctures to enhance hair growth.
When eaten, the spicy vegetable improves the production of the hormone testosterone. If used wisely, it will help to get rid of hair loss. Excessive eating leads to excess body hair.
Slimming
Hot chili peppers are excellent appetite suppressants, which contributes to quick weight loss. The active substance begins to work with food, the effect lasts for several hours. A person eats less food, while satiety comes earlier. BJU in 100 g of red spice:
- proteins - 11%;
- fats - 6%;
- carbohydrates - 70%.
The low calorie content of the product allows it to be used on a diet. Adding spice to food will increase the flavor profile.Some people include this vegetable in their diet because it speeds up metabolism and normalizes digestion.
The remedy produces endorphins (the hormone of happiness), which have a positive effect on mood. If a person does not sleep well, his body is under stress and stores extra pounds. By using chili in daily meals, a person gets rid of insomnia. The spice removes water from the body, which also contributes to weight loss.
For male strength
Scientists have shown that regular consumption of small amounts of the spice improves sex life. The abundance of vitamins and minerals has a positive effect on the human body. The blood thinns, which affects the functioning of the genitals.
Testosterone production is increased, which helps in maintaining physical fitness and improves endurance in men. To build muscle, athletes prefer to add a pinch of pepper to cocktails.
Many peoples still believe that the product is an aphrodisiac, therefore, hot spices are introduced into the diet. However, do not overuse chili peppers. An excess of spice increases sexual intercourse, but negatively affects the mobility and vitality of sperm.
Harm
Pepper has many beneficial properties, but there are contraindications to its use, because the sharpness of chili peppers can negatively affect health.
You need to be careful with a sore stomach
Gastrointestinal problems
If you eat a lot of chili peppers, the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines is destroyed. With abuse, the benefit develops into harm, gastritis and ulcers may develop.
Patients prone to heartburn should not abuse the product. Active substances and bitterness irritate the gastrointestinal tract, this causes an unpleasant effect. If the discomfort recurs, it is better to refuse the acute one. People with high acidity levels may experience a burning sensation in the abdomen.
Burn
Burning plants can cause chemical burns or severe tissue irritation. It is best to wear gloves when in regular contact with the product. The affected areas are rinsed abundantly with water and wiped with sunflower oil.
You need to be as careful as possible with your eyes. The slightest particle on the surface of the mucous membrane causes pain and redness, and the consequences are difficult to remove without medical intervention.
Individual intolerance
Despite the medicinal properties of pepper, if consumed every day, it can cause harm to the body. It is undesirable to consume more than one spicy pod per day: this can cause allergies. The symptoms are:
- rash;
- redness of the skin, mucous membrane;
- swelling;
- temperature increase;
- general weakness.
Children under 12 are also not allowed to eat spicy foods.
For pregnant women, the spice can cause miscarriage. During menstruation, blood flow increases, which negatively affects women's health. Spice lovers suffer from lower abdominal pain and severe bleeding.
Many people do not realize they have an allergy until they receive the results of the study. In this case, it is recommended to stop drinking chili or reduce the amount to a minimum. Allergies can develop into asthma.
How to cook
Famous English chef Jamie Oliver recommends the use of chili peppers to change the taste of familiar dishes. A spicy vegetable can be pickled and smoked, dried and ground into powder. Depending on the type of spice and the method of preparation, the food will taste differently.
Pepper types:
- Fresh. After removing the inner partitions and seeds, the pulp is added to food.
- Dried. The most popular processing method, which allows you to experiment with different varieties and completely control the process. Use fruits both whole and ground.
- Freezing. In order to store the spice without problems, they prefer to freeze it. At the same time, the nutritional value and medicinal properties are not lost.
The application vector for chili peppers is extensive. Any dish acquires not only uniqueness of taste, but also usefulness. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the spice will help you avoid problems.